Famous in Paradise

Chapters

Going Through Changes
Collapse
Block Out The World
My Curse
Always You
My Favorite Accident
Shot Down

Going Through Changes

Author's Note

This won't become a major project or a mainline story for me. I'm kind of just doing this for fun. This won't become a point of focus for me in the future. But still, I hope it pleases your interest for reading. :twilightsmile:

Going Through Changes

Viral hadn't been used to the feeling ever since she left for Wing City all those years ago, but to her nothing quite felt like home. Or at the very least what felt like home. She glanced down at her license as she came back to reality. It felt like she was just a filly the first time she drove these streets.

Indeed she had been through Paradise City many times. Getting caught up in that portal and getting dragged alone to a different universe did a lot to her head. Ever since she just went through the motions. Winning races, and crashing every once in a while. But it was lonely, and shortly after she earned her Burnout Racing License she pursued other places. It took her a long time to find Wing City. But it suited her and at least she had company and competition. Zephyr was a nice stallion, even if he did seem like he was covering something up.

She had returned a few days prior so she could finally earn her Elite License. Except, now something seemed different. There were other cars, like always. But they seemed to actually be driven by ponies for once. They didn't occasionally wreck just because in any given race. They actually posed a challenge. It was a welcome surprise.

Last up on her list was a Stunt Run, one she was currently finishing up. She had long since already beaten the score but it helped that she was in her personal favorite car. A Carson GT Concept, the car she earned getting her Burnout License.

She was cruising down Angus Wharf after just recently passing by the Junkyard near The Coast Guard HQ. She was holding a 14x multiplier but had burnt up her boost reserves. The Combo ended just as she passed by the Waterfront, the timer signaling the end of the event.

As she pulled the GT Concept to the curb the Burnout License next to her began to glow vibrantly. The light enveloping the license as it changed from a dark red to a bright silver. That was it, she had done it. On the license now was a stamp of completion. It read, 100% Dec, 9 2019. She was proud of herself for sure.

She knew exactly where to celebrate. The Wildcat's Baseball Stadium. She drove in through the West entrance and began to settle into a gradual drift. She lined up the perfect angle to the point where she no longer needed to move the wheel. With the wheel in place she did two things. She locked her steering wheel in place and placed a weight on her pedal before proceeding to climb to the roof of the GT Concept as it continued to drift. She had practiced before, it was no problem for her.

She must have been doing it for a few minutes before the thunder of another engine hounded her ears. From the Southeast entrance an aquamarine and golden orange Jansen XS12 entered the stadium and came to a stop inside the circle her Concept was making. Viral climbed back into her vehicle and yanked the e-brake stopping the car instantly, right next to the new arrival's Super-car.

The wing doors of the XS12 opened revealing a similarly colored pegasus mare wearing a black jumpsuit with green thunderbolts. What was interesting to Viral was she had seen this mare, back in Wing City. Then again, she knew this was a separate universe. Paradise City and Wing City’s different physics kind of implied it.

"That was pretty reckless, I liked it."

"Coming from a pony driving that car, I would have expected something like that to escape those lips of yours. That car may as well be a wild animal"

Ok, so this pony may have looked the same but she definitely wasn't the same in personality. Then without warning two more vehicles entered. One, a Purple Carson Opus XS and the other being a Red Carson Annihilator.

"Ok, the speeder, the showoff, and the aggressor. Do crews of three always have this dynamic?" Viral thought to herself.

Two more ponies stepped out of the cars that arrived. The driver of the Opus was far too tall to be driving a Lowrider and the other was far too short to likely even reach the pedals. They were also wearing the same jumpsuit that the first pony was wearing.

"Names Lightning Dust, this is Rolling Thunder and Short Fuze."

"You, figured. Your name sounds like generic Pegasus number three-five-six, and your name is just a pun based on your height."

Short Fuze looked ready to jump the Pegasus for her comment. Lighting just rolled her eyes as Rolling Thunder tried to hold Short Fuze back.

"Make that a double pun. Did you want something?"

"I was going to ask if you could run with us as a crew…"

Viral flashed her newly earned Elite license.

"If anything I'll be leaving you behind rather than anything."

"Is that a challenge?"

"If you finish within 5 seconds of me I'll stick with you. At least then I know you won't be holding me down."

In reality Viral really did want to run with Lightning, but the addition of Rolling Thunder and Short Fuze just annoyed her more than anything.

"Fine, your on. The Country Club, whenever you're ready."

Viral was already spinning her tires. All of the racers oriented themselves before launching out the Southeast entrance. They went uphill heading Northwest.

As Viral went on final approach for The Country Club she was moderately surprised to see Lightning's XS12 keeping pace with her slightly faster GT Concept. Either Lightning was well prepared for a race or she was losing her touch. The others however were simply just gone. Short Fuze had actively gone for a slam on Viral only to find himself head on with a bus, and Rolling Thunder had tried to shortcut the turn off 7th by jumping the statue. This only lead to her missing the landing zone and ending up in a pond.

Viral drifted the final turn into the finish marker with Lightning not far behind at all. They parked on the curb together waiting for the other two to finish.

"At least I can say you had me running."

"Well, your actions back up your talk that's for sure. I never got your name."

"Viral Velocity, but if you want you can just call me V."

“You don’t say. You know where the abandoned airfield is right?”

“If I didn’t I wouldn’t have an Elite License. Why do you ask?”

“Performing dangerous stunts while flying is one thing, but I still need some practice with my XS12. Mind doing some moves to show off?”

“Just that? I can do you one better. I can run my usual routine for you to watch.”

Short Fuze and Rolling Thunder finally pulled up alongside Lightning’s XS12.

“One moment.”

Lightning spent a moment talking with her companions, who apparently wanted a break. While Lightning sighed a bit she relented and the two ponies went into the club. It was likely they wouldn’t stay long. Lightning returned to her vehicle as Viral climbed back into hers. As Viral pulled onto Newton she could have sworn she heard the distinct engine of two Hunter Cavalry’s and a Mesquite. Judging by the direction they were likely heading up W. Crawford. The pair of vehicles headed south making a right turn onto Lawrence and into the tunnel dodging traffic like street racers. They exited and shortly thereafter made a left turn at the Junkyard before turning into the entrance to the airfield. There was a vehicle already present.

An orange Carson GT Flame with blue/yellow flames adorning the hood had just finished running the figure eight dirt track inside the airfield and had come to a stop. Lightning’s XS12 had pulled in front of Viral’s GT Concept as they entered. When it seemed the driver of the GT Flame noticed them they came to a dead stop. The two cars were lined up perfectly and were now spinning thier tires. Seemingly in sync they shot off heading for one another and at the last second they pulled away from each other, the GT Flame exiting where Viral had entered from.

Lightning parked next to a ramp and exited her supercar with a look that could kill a Cockatrice. Viral pulled alongside and just rolled down her window. Lightning simply sighed.

“Let’s not talk about that now ok. You said you had a routine for this place?”

“Yep, stand back this might take some time.”

Viral spun her GT Concept around so it was facing north and took off at high speed. She made the first corner, drifting all the way through. She took two short hops on the center ramps then drifted left. The car was stable in the drift but nearly over-steered. The she went for the first big jump. Heading left she aimed for a rounded building with a roof used as a makeshift ramp. She pulled on the e-brake on launch and executed a textbook flat spin. Another time around the wide left with a little extra counter-steer to balance the car. This time she went for a single roll on the short ramp. A little risky but she pulled it off. It was meant to impress Lightning. She came around one more time for the grand finale. She took a tight angle on the drift and went right. She aimed slightly off the blue flashing lights, she wanted the split ramp. As the red GT Concept took flight it went into a roll and in a seemingly unthinkable miracle went through a ring, upside down, before landing on its wheels. To add onto that, she had cleared Lightning’s XS12 while doing so.

She spun around one more time before parking alongside the same car she just jumped over.

“How was that? I did it first try too.”

“I think I need to practice more on my own time, we should probably head back and pick up the others. Let’s take Crawford, I think it's faster.

Collapse

Viral had begun to play with Lightning a bit. After they had left the airfield she used the boost she gained doing her performance to shoot out ahead of Lightning’s XS12. Somehow she had gained massive ground on the mare behind her but she paid no attention. They both knew where they were going. As she was going through the tunnel she glanced at her mirror to find Lightning finally catching up, and doing so at a rapid pace. Viral just decided to let her past, she had already proved she could go faster. She did not expect the XS12 to shunt her at high speeds. Surprised, she attempted to see if maybe she mistook her for somepony else. No it was Lightning for sure, except now her eyes were a deep red with all expression replaced with nothing but anger and hate. Not to mention the dark eerie haze that surrounded them.

"Well, at least she was friendly for a little while." Viral commented on her current situation.

Playing mean was something she was used to. The situation she Found herself in was different from what she prepared for. She had been running with Lightning down Crawford. Then, without warning, Lightning had shunted her with considerable force jolting Viral's concept. Viral wished she hadn't glanced in her mirror. Those eyes, they were not the eyes of any sane pony. As she passed by Newton Short Fuze and Rolling Thunder turned off to join the chase. Viral could only assume it was for the same reason Lightning shunted her.

She now found herself on Crawford passing by the Junkyard near Angus Wharf. A Purple Mesquite was exiting the building as she passed by seemingly oblivious to her situation. Then again, it probably wouldn't be able to keep up anyway. She roared pass with all three of her former mates following close behind. She hooked a right onto 7th and punched it. Only the XS12 dared to keep pace with her. Off in the distance was a ramp. She hit the jump with precision, gaining a large chunk of boost from the stunt. The road opened up, going through Lawrence. Lightning backed off, her speed type boost unable to hold itself with the Concept’s stunt boost. Rolling Thunder and Short Fuze closed the gap and took over the chase. Viral was at her breaking point, she had already seen enough.

She had a piece she saved for only dire emergencies. She retrieved it and placed it next to her seat. A modified MP7, she had hoped it would never be used. Short Fuze came up alongside her left first. When he went for the slam Viral met him. His car was stronger and took the hit. If only he had been paying attention to the road. He found the divider that was being used as a ramp for the oncoming lane. one down, two left. She exited the tunnel heading for the coast of Silver Lake. The tight corners causing her GT Concept to slam into the walls denting the body and scratching paint. When she went to turn north on the coast she barely caught Thunder’s Opus XS charging hard, committing to a t-bone. She slammed her e-brake hard and slid left. The Opus already committed for the Concept to turn right impacted the guard rail with such force that it folded inward on itself and stopped dead in its tracks. Two dealt with. Lightning’s XS12 was prepared to take the corner. She turned left to meet the Concept as Viral spun it around. She got a good look at Lightning’s face. It was a face that showed no mercy. As the chase continued on Viral cut through a diner’s parking lot to head north up Cannon Pass. She had an idea, The XS12 could not handle high speed landings very well. If she could force Lightning to commit to a jump she had a chance. As she was about to pass by Uphill Drive she pulled onto the railroad. There was a super jump at the end of the line. Both vehicles launched off the ramp over the gas station below it. The landing was awkward for both of them with Viral just barely smoothing out before ducking right to avoid the second ramp before heading for the third. She jerked the wheel left to land on the road. Lightning wasn’t so lucky. The XS12 soared off into the trees, rolling a couple times before landing upside down in the mountain road nearby. Viral pulled another 180 turn and headed for Uphill Drive so as to throw off her trail. She raced up it at full speed making it to the crest of White Mountain in record time. At the peak she found four more cars, A Nakamura Ikusa GT, Carson Fastback, Rossolini Tempesta, and a Hunter Mesquite. She was tired of running and parked next to the closest car. She jumped out MP7 in hoof, it was her only means of defense. She barely had time to react to the changeling that pointed a M1911 straight in her direction.

Author's Note

I'm sure if you read the main story "Burnout Equestrian Paradise" you would know exactly why this is happening and what happens at the end. If you don't, you should probably go read it. It's really good.

Block Out The World

"Drop the gun!"

"You first!"

Viral was now in her second life or death scenario for the day, two more than she asked for. As soon as she parked her GT Concept next to the group of cars on top of White Mountain she found herself in a standoff with a changeling that was wielding a 1911. It was definitely up there on the weirdest things she had become stuck in. She had caught the changeling off guard with her retort.

"I recognize your voice, have I held you at gunpoint before?"

Wait, now that he mentioned it. His voice sounded like a stallion she knew from Wing City, one that drove a Ford Fiesta ST. She squinted her eyes, not giving the changeling any weakness.

"You sound familiar too. Do you know any pony by the name of Zephyr?"

The changeling in front of her reeled in shock once again. Silence was the only thing between the pair for several seconds.

"Promise me you won't freak out when you see this."

Viral simply nodded. What could he do at this point to freak her out. She had already been through enough that day. Well apparently not, as the changeling became enveloped in red flames as he transformed into a familiar looking stallion. One she recognized all too well. He looked at her with a blank expression as her whole world was flipped on its head.

"Z-Zephyr?" Was all that managed to escape her muzzle.

"Hi there V."

She ran up to the stallion, changeling, and hugged him relentlessly which he returned graciously. This moment of silence was interrupted by a baby dragon.

"You two... know each other?"

The pair broke the hug as Zephyr returned to the gathering of ponies. A pegasus stallion, an earth pony mare, the baby dragon in question and... was that Princess Twilight Sparkle?

"Yeah I know her. Every pony this is Viral Velocity, but you can call her V. She's a good friend of mine, and she hails from Wing City, not too far from here. Although she isn't from here, she knows her way around this place like the back of her hoof, because..."

"I recently just earned my Criterion Elite License, meaning that I have mastered Paradise City I know where everything is. Every Billboard, Super Jump, Parking Lot, Auto-Repair, Paint Shop, the whole lot! If you ever need to know where something is, just ask me." She finished proudly.

"So do I sweet!"

Oh no he didn't, did he just call her sweet?

Viral shot the nearby pegasus a hostile look.

"What did you just call me?"

Her retort seemed to work, but only for a second.

"Wow, you are feisty! I like that."

Now it was Viral's turn to be surprised. She had been called "Sweet" before, but every time it happened a well placed glare shot down the attempt. Yes, she hadn't seen Sapphire Rose is some time but she still considered her the one. Even if Viral was bisexual she would not cheat on her mare. It seemed this stallion was no average pony.

"Has any pony ever told you you look beautiful? Because you are the most beautiful mare I have ever seen."

That made Viral blush. Against every emotion in her body her cheeks became a brighter crimson than her coat was. He was flirting with her, and why in Celestia's name was he enjoying it? Thankfully Zephyr, who was now a changeling again, stopped the stallion before he could go any further.

"Ok that's enough you two. Viral, this is DangerDean. Dean, meet Viral Velocity."

As he was finishing another engine could be heard coming from the direction of the observatory. Viral was not taking chances for a third scenario and raised her MP7. Zephyr put his hoof down on her, forcing her to lower the weapon.

"Wait, V. I bet you that driver isn't under control."

Under control, by who? Is that why Lightning had been chasing her earlier? Was she under the control of something else?

Another pony stepped out of the car that arrived to the ever growing group. Another pegasus stallion, Thunderlane. Yet another pony Viral was familiar with thanks to her mother whom which she hadn't seen in years. Come to think about it wasn't her mothers name Lightning Dust? She completely zoned out for several seconds, realizing that she had now seen three different incarnations of her own mother. And one just tried to kill her. When she regained her composure she got the answer to her silent question.

"King Sombra did this." Twilight had said.

Oh, great. The former ruler of the Crystal Empire. Well that was something new. Twilight began to explain how it could have happened. All the details seemed to fit together, and explained why the group she was with was not under control. If she hadn't been driving the GT Concept at the time she would have been lost as well.

"Ok, we've got our gameplan! But what's our first move?"

"We can use the Junkyard over by Lone Stallion Ranch. I've been there multiple times, and it has a nice building next to it where we can sleep."

Oh look, Danger being useful and not flirting with her. That was a nice change of pace. Zephyr confirmed this move, and every pony began racing back to their cars. Viral immediately starting her Concept up once again.

The group began traveling south. Viral gave them a head start, she had the fastest car there by a strong margin. She figured now was a time to show off. She cut into the access road on the left and blazed along the dirt trail. She launched off the jump as the other five cars stayed on the road, the Tempesta Danger was driving leading the group. She launched off the first jump, hitting a billboard she had already cleared. Another jump, this one giving every pony beneath her a clear view of her underside. Next up, the Super Jump. This one was tricky but she had practiced it several times. She soared through the air over the lead Tempesta, landing on the other side. She jumped off the cliff, nearly dropping on top of the Tempesta. It was good to know that the Tempesta didn't look any better from a vertical view. Danger was lucky, she could have easily turned his car into a pile of scrap if she landed on it. She was now leader of the pack. She knew where she was going and she wasn't going to let Danger beat her after his flirting.

Dean still had not stopped flirting, even after they stopped to eat. Well only Viral and Dean were eating at the moment, every pony else was just kind of there. Twilight, Spike, and Applejack were present as were Zephyr, who Viral now knew was really a changeling named Akula, and Thunderlane the lone Wonderbolt not to be under control from Sombra. Danger kept on talking, how could one pony talk for so long. He must really have been desperate.

"You Know" He commented while eating pizza. "I've always wondered what the underside of a GT Concept looks like. Now I finally found out."

"Strange, because at the same time, because at the same time I was wondering if the Tempesta could look any better than it does from above. I found out, that at any angle, you can't make the Tempesta look any better than it already is."

That was the one thing Danger had that Viral did like. The Tempesta was among her favorite five cars along with her GT Concept, Hawker, Spur, and X12. If he knew where he had a common interest he wouldn't sound so annoying.

"Very funny. Your just trapped inside your tough little shell, but underneath that shell is a sweet, little mare that I know has the hots for me." He commented, chuckling. He just didn't learn.

Viral threw the spoon she was using to eat Mac & Cheese at the stallions' face. It hit him square on the nose.

"Oww! Don't hit me on the nose! That's my sensitive spot!"

Oh, so he has a sensitive spot. I'll shelve that in my mental filing cabinet for reference. Viral thought to herself as she responded.

"Next time, I'm throwing something bigger unless you stop running your piehole!" She snapped. Was she losing her patience? She likely already lost it back at the Wind Farm.

"Ok, calm down. The both of you! Danger i'm going to need you shut your trap and stop testing Viral's patience. Viral, I'll need you to tolerate him a little. Sure, he may be annoying you, but that doesn't mean you should start hurting him! If there's anything you do instead of hurting others to relieve stress, do that instead!"

Viral reeled back from your friend telling her off. Yeah, she did go overboard herself. If only Danger knew when to quit. Something to relieve stress? She began to mentally sing a song from her own band. It always soothed her, even though it was hard rock. Sadly, she barely got ten seconds in before spike asked her a question.

"Hey, Viral. I've actually heard from Akula that you have an incredible singing voice. Is that true?"

Oh little dragon, you don't know the half of it. I have sung at least fifty covers of my favorite songs and have 7 of my own.

"Yes, I have a voice like an angel." Viral smiled. She could have said more but there was no need. She was here to race and have fun, not to put on a concert for a group of 6.

"Would you care to show us?"

She would have ignored the request if the rest of the ponies in the group didn't agree with it. Even Akula urged her on. Eventually she relented. Her bands songs wouldn't sit well since they were hard rock and so were most of the covers she did. There was however a song that could work. She extended her wings as they began to glow a bright orange. She began to do a cover of 7 years, it was a soft song and one she could replay fairly easily.

When she was done she found Applejack nearly in tears, voicing her approval. Twilight however came rushing up to her with questions. It was at that moment she realized she had used her magic in front of the Element of Magic. A mistake that was given a punishment of a barrage of questions.

Viral explained to Twilight in the shortest way possible. She had learned about her one of a kind ability when she was a teen, and had begun practicing with it as she grew older. Once she mastered her ability to play music she combined this ability with her special talent of singing to create her own music. Being a good racer was a bonus that she kept for safe keeping.

"...Although I did practice with it away from my mother, so I could spend time with her."

"Wait, you never told us about your mother. What is she like? Is she nice?" Thunderlane asked.

There was no way to answer that question directly. Even though she had seen three different incarnations of Lightning Dust, one which recently attempted to kill her, she was certain that she still disliked the Wonderbolts. Thunderlane was a Wonderbolt and that would have been an awkward conversation. Viral swallowed while attempting a cover up.

"Well, let's just say she down't like you kind."

"Pegasi?"

"No, Wonderbolts"

Well, that didn't help at all, and now she was even more tense than before. Thankfully Akula could sense her fear. He probably didn't even need to sense it, it was all over her face. She opted out.

"Hey can we move onto some pony else? I'm getting uncomfortable with all these questions." Every pony in attendance respected her wish. She turned to Akula. "Ok, I'll start with you. Akula, you've told me your fake 'Zephyr' backstory, but I want to hear your actual backstory. What was your life in the hive? Was it nice?"

Akula did so, giving his story as a member of the changeling hive and his loyalty to Chrysalis as an unreformed member of the hive. Twilight and Applejack, despite their history with Chrysalis, gave him words of encouragement. After all, he was helping them get their friends back. But being on opposite ends of a game of life and death? That had to be rough. In a way, Viral felt it too. She had been separated from her mother, dropped out on a meeting with a twin in Wing City, and now a third was on the other side of this war.

"We'll get her, and I'll be at your side all the way." It was then Viral noticed Danger had scooted next to her.

"And i'll be right here, Next. To. You."

He brought her face towards his.

"Kiss me, you know you want to."

"In your dreams, you pervert!"

Viral pulled away and stormed off.

"I'd rather sit on a storm cloud than kiss you!"

"Sure you may storm off now, but I know you love me!"

Viral responded in kind as she flew outside by grabbing a rock and lobbing it at Danger, right on his nose, while in mid flight. After striking her target she did a full mid air flip over the hood of her GT Concept and landed perfectly upright on the drivers side.

She still had the flying talent of a former Wonderbolt trainee. It helped that she was taught by one of the greatest to never put on the uniform.

"Danger, Viral, Twilight with me. We're going to back Fluttershy."

She needed no further instruction, Fluttershy was driving an SI-7. It was very likely she was somewhere in Downtown. She and Danger raced off, Twilight and Akula following shortly after while AJ and Thunderlane held down the fort.

Now Viral was just pissed off. She had stopped in front of The Crash FM Radio building at Franke and Fry to scout for Fluttershy and her SI-7. What did Danger do? Pull alongside her and get in her car, without even asking. The sun was beginning to set now. Time flew by much faster here than at home or Wing City.

That was not on Viral's mind, as Danger was now in the passenger seat of her car and wouldn't stop talking.

"C'mon Viral, don't tell me you don't find me even a little bit attractive." He attempted to flirt with her again."

"Actually no, I find you 100% annoying! So stop trying to win me! I'm not a prize!"

"Ok then, believe what you want. And I believe that you're just begging me to take you to bed."

Nope, that's it. Enough of that!

"Please open your door."

Danger complied.

"Now unbuckle yourself."

Once again he complied. It was his mistake. As he turned to face Viral she punched him on his snoot, right from his seat. She promptly closed the door and locked it for good measure. She was completely losing it to the fact he was trying to bed her.

What the hell is wrong with that stallion?! He should know by now that I'm unavailable, yet he keeps trying. That guy doesn't know how to take 'no' as an answer!

She promptly plugged in a pair of ear phones into her stereo and began to turn Crash FM back on. It was always soothing to hear the great tunes played in Paradise City. She had her own tracks just in case but most songs on the radio did just fine. Coincidentally, the song that played when she turned on the radio was Block Out The World. It was literally a song about blocking out the world with music played through headphones, which was what she was doing at the current moment.

Just as coincidentally, a yellow and red SI-7 blazed past down Fry Avenue just as the beat kicked in.

Alright, chase music. Let's get this done.

Danger did the duty of letting Akula know that they were tailing Fluttershy, not that Viral could hear them. She was too busy driving and listening to good music.

"Block out the world with headphones on. It's the only thing that works, when I don't want to talk to no one!"

She also wasn't paying attention to how close she was to Fluttershy, and the SI-7 that they were supposed to tail began to speed away. Now it was a chase, and Viral wasn't going to let chase music got to waste. She only went fast enough to keep up with the car in front of her. Akula soon joined in as they took a left as did Twilight who jumped through a billboard to join the road. Akula gave Twilight the clear to take point. Viral silently acknowledged and let the Mesquite past as they traveled east up Harbor Street.

"Block out the Radio, block out the TV show, block out these visions that trouble me so..."

The chase roared past the Wildcats' Baseball stadium. Viral got cut off by cross traffic and had to dodge into oncoming at 2nd. If Twilight had an opportunity to strike now was the time. She did, as cross traffic caught the SI-7 off guard at Anderson and stopped its momentum. Twilight's Mesquite gave it a good slam, a successful takedown. Viral, noticing the chase was over, pulled her GT Concept into a 180. She spun her tires to avoid the pillar that closed quickly as she and the others came to a stop. Just as she stopped, so to did the song end. She turned off the radio and put her headphones away.

"What a rush!"

Lightning was having to constantly idle rev her XS12 to keep it running while she waited at the Country Club. She, along with a few others including Rolling Thunder and Short Fuze were setting up an ambush as Fluttershy began to race for their location.

Finally it seemed like the time was right as an engine began to be heard over the horizon. Only, it wasn't the engine of an SI-7. Rather the engine belonged to a Cyan and Gold trimed Jansen P12. Rainbow Dash's car. She stopped at the edge of the lot and stepped out of her pocket rocket.

"Fluttershy is lost, gigs up. Return to your duties."

As she gave the order a multitude of vehicles began to leave the area along the two access roads of Newton Drive. Lightning was the exception. She left the confines of her XS12 to stick it to her former rival.

"So, you're so willing to give up on your friend like that huh. You weren't so keen when you got me kicked out."

"Back off Dust, were on the same side for once. I was put in a postion of leadership because.."

"Because you are a friend of some pony that Grogar and the others are trying to eliminate. You're being used, but you're ok with that. You've always been ok being used."

Lightning offered no chances for Rainbow to respond as she returned to her supercar and dipped. She wanted no part of being a lap dog to her former wing pony. She had some pony more important to worry about. Viral had shown her up one too many times now. She was going to find that pegasus and pull her wings off like paper when she got the chance.

My Curse

For Viral, the downside to doing everything in Paradise City was that she had nothing left to do. All events completed, every gate, billboard, and jump completed. She had every car in her garage including the limited editionsBig Surf Island cars. She even had taken the time to finish Big Surf Island itself. She had the choice to return to Wing City and run Perfect Shift, but at the same time that was just for fun. No risk of some pony or something taking over Equestria. There were some incidents, the qualifier had gone well until the very end with the crash and subsequent police take down. At the very least she was aware that the next series of events had started. She needed to stay here for the sake of Akula, Twilight, and the others. Even if Danger was constantly wanting to bed her. She could have told him she was a lesbian, even though she was technically bisexual. Viral needed a way to think straight.

She passed by the repair shop that was in Palm Bay Heights and parked in the garage. Akula had straight up left after Fluttershy had been released. Twilight and Applejack were helping her readjust to being herself again. Danger, thankfully, went somewhere completely different from where she had gone. She had some time to herself. She turned on the radio.

My Curse, Killswitch Engage.

She left the garage and stopped at the intersection on Franke and Young. On it was a race to the Wind Farm. Perhaps she did need something to do. She spun her tires, signalling the start of the event. It was DJ-PON3's voice that came through the radio, she missed Atomica.

Race west to the Wind Farm.

As the light turned green Viral surged ahead northeast as two Jansen X12's, a 500GT, and a Touge Sport blasted off ahead of her. She also had a Tempesta and another X12 behind her with a P12 struggling to keep pace. In total, eight cars.The cluster of cars immediately hooked a left onto 7th and launched into the tunnel. one of the X12's slammed the 500GT into a passenger car in front of Viral. She used her expertise to avoid the wreck which collected the silver Tempesta behind her.

"Not sure if I should be thankful or upset that it wasn't Danger's Tempesta." She joked with herself.

The race continued through and out the other side of the tunnel. The Touge Sport lead with both X12's second and third. It was a slight sense of Deja Vu for Viral as this was the exact path she took when she met the others. No time to indulge, she was only fourth. the X12 in front of her was a pearlescent red/green and the one in second a metallic blue. She couldn't quite make out the Touge yet. The pair of X12's had an exchange, the blue one slamming the red/green one into the wall and taking it down. Viral made her move on the remaining X12. She shunted it into the divider on E. Lake Drive. The car crunched up just like the Opus XS had before. It was morbid, but contact was encouraged in Paradise City.

She raced up the road in pursuit of the leader, the Touge Sport. She finaly caught up to it as it cut the parking lot on Cannon Pass, and she mirrored the action. She gained ground as both cars turned left onto Nelson. She finally got a good look at the Touge she was racing. Dark blue with the green and red stripes of a scheme one finish. She managed to close the gap as they entered Uphill Drive side by side. She was on the outside on the first turn and the Touge used her as a moving wall, pinching her slightly as it took the corner. On the next turn she forced her GT Concept forward. Whoever was driving this Touge was very confident about their ride. She managed to clear the other racer going into the final turn. A well executed slide allowed her to maintain the lead. She crested the hill, victorious once again. The Touge finished second, not far behind at all. It was followed by the 500GT then all three X12's and then the Tempesta and P12.

"Another day, another win for the most famous driver of them all." Viral complemented herself, parking her GT Concept along the side of N. Mountain Drive as every other racer passed by carelessly. All except for the Touge, which had parked itself a few meters behind her, on the opposite side of the road. The car was still running, and the occupant made no intentions of exiting the vehicle.

Viral glanced at her mirror intently, something was amiss, she knew it. Then another vehicle stopped in front of her. It was not a car from the previous race, rather it was a stock scheme Pioneer Super Gator. Then also a Silver inferno van.

That was when Viral realized the path ahead of her was blocked, by two vehicles that could crush hers and eat it too. She intended to back away slowly.

The Touge had already filled her mirror.

"So, we're doing this again huh? Suit yourself."

Once again she spun her tires, pulling slightly forward. She then spun the GT Concept around the Touge and punched it back down Uphill. She decided she didn't want another chase for the day and decided to go cliff jumping. She went the full distance and didn't look back. Thankfully none of the three vehicles had decided to follow her down the cliff. She immediately headed for the closest junkyard. The one her small group had set up shop at.

Always You

Author's Note

Here is the song found in this chapter, from the Burnout 3 Soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_cQGr0AYFc

Always You

Viral had not gotten much sleep. Then again years of street racing had really taken a toll on her sleep schedule. She might have well have been nocturnal, she was used to working on limited sleep. The others, save for Twilight who was just now waking up, were already outside. Viral paid little attention to the group. Not only did her run in the day before become stuck in her mind, but Lightning Dust too was still a fresh memory.

As much as she wanted to see her there was almost zero chance that if they did run into each other again she would try to kill her. It was a hard truth. She hadn't seen her real mother since she first stepped through the portal and any alternate version of her was nothing like the pony she knew as a filly.

Twilight finally made her way outside, greeting every pony that was awake.

"Good morning Twilight, I hope you had a good sleep." Akula greeted the alicorn.

"I hope you have a bit of energy. I think we're gonna need it." Viral said unemotionally. Akula gave her a sharp glare.

"Which reminds me..." He then gave her a death glare, one she would never forget. "Where were you last night!" He questioned the bright red mare. Viral took a moment to recover before sharing the info about the ponies she ran into after her race the night before. He responded with a single word swear.

"This doesn't surprise me. He just realized his advantage over us, and now he's coming down with a vengeance."

It was at that moment that the most adorable yawn came from Fluttershy, who had just awoken from her slumber. She said good morning before Akula continued.

"We're gonna need to step up our game. If we just stay still and not free any others, we're gonna get overwhelmed pretty quickly. We need to gain some allies."

It was at this point that Viral began to zone out, daydreaming about being back home. She enjoyed the excitement of racing, dare she call it second nature to her now. She was the most experienced of the group, and she had the fastest car. The only reason she was here in Paradise and not home was her loyalty to helping these ponies. She barely caught Akula mentioning Big Surf Island and staying at the junkyard to hold down the fort.

Every pony but her and Akula were now going to Big Surf Island, Twilight with a new SI-7.

Viral was even less thrilled about being stuck inside with Akula despite their mostly friendly partnership. It was better than being stuck alone in the same room with Danger. She paid little attention to the changeling talking with the rest of the group as she listened to some songs from many years ago. Songs that would probably fit in a arcade racing game from 2004.

She barely noticed Akula step away from the conversation to eye her.

"What you listening to?"

"It's nothing good, just reminiscing on the classics."

She put her earbuds back in, attempting to drown out the environment around her. Akula was none to pleased and walked up to her. Before he could attempt to redraw her attention she whipped the ear buds out and got up, staring directly into his eyes.

"Did you want something?" She asked quizzically, with an almost sarcastic tone.

"The only reason I want you to stay here is because I can't go and I trust you the most to watch my back."

"Well I'm flattered, but you know damn well I'm better than any pony on these streets. I could wipe the floor with anyone I come across including Grogar and his goons. Instead I'm here teaching rookies how to drive when I could be back home."

She once again pulled out her Criterion Elite License, with 100% engraved on it.

"See this? I've got nothing left to do in this city, so forgive me for being bored while I'm stuck here for the time being as Twilight does what I could do twice over in half the time."

She took a breath, pausing to catch herself. Akula hadn't flinched from her words, he was as stoic as ever. With nothing left to rant about, she placed her earbuds in once more. Just in time for a new song. She checked the name.

Amber Pacific-Always You

Akula cleared his throat in order to get Viral's attention. She pulled a single earbud out to continue listening but also hear what he had to say.

"I haven't known you long enough to figure out everything about you Viral, but I know your still here for a reason. You stayed voluntarily, otherwise you would have left for Wing City by now. You do have a tendency to lie to yourself and others."

He wasn't wrong, Viral was staying for a reason. It was a reason she was scared to admit. She trusted him with the information, but wasn't sure if he would talk about it with say Thunderlane or any of the other ponies.

"I'll hold a place for you in time, inside my heart for you and I. I won't forget these tears I cried, with every year that passes by."

"I just want to see my mother again Akula. I haven't seen her face since i turned 20, that was when I first stepped in this place. I was stuck here for 7 years according to my account. the features don't add up, time is different here then home, but my point still stands."

"Why didn't you go back to her when you could?"

"Because I didn't know where to look! I ended up in Wing City by accident. That place isn't my home...."

"Good times last forever, I'll keep my heart with yours. For every minute I am gone."

"...and neither is here. I'm doing what is right, but i'm no hero. Ever since Twilight arrived she's done all the work. I've been little more than a helpful bystander...."

"You can stop doing that now." Akula interrupted. Viral gave him little more than a questioning look.

"I'll give it up, this time again. Some things are better left unsaid. All I have are lasting dreams..."

"Yes Twilight is doing most of the work, but every pony's contribution is going to count in the end. You, more than any pony else, are the best driver I have on these streets. See it this way, Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy want their friends back. I want my crew back myself, despite the fact they tried to kill me not too long ago. Thunderlane wants to be with the Wonderbolts again, and I'm pretty sure Danger just wants this over with so he can have fun and not worry about anything."

"Like trying to bring me to bed unwillingly?"

"My point is Viral, every pony here is working towards a similar goal. Bring back their friends and save both Paradise City and Equestria, and I bet you have some pony you want back as well."

"Swear you'll never leave me, I'll be there every time. In your heart and in your eyes."

She couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes as she spoke.

"She's not the same, she looks and sounds the part but she isn't like her. My mother gave up her reckless nature, she didn't allow it to control her life. She also didn't try to kill me."

"And in this universe, you weren't born. Viral, there are two things wrong with what you're saying. She isn't thinking under her own control, and she doesn't know you like you know her."

"Good times last forever, I'll keep my heart with yours. For every minute I am gone. Swear you'll never leave me, I'll be there every time. In your heart and in your eyes."

"Look, we are all working for the same goal. You, me, and the rest of the free ponies want our friends and loved ones back. If we are going to do this we need to stay safe and watch out for each other. You have experience with this city, more than I do, and I wouldn't want any other pony by my side in this predicament."

His words seemed to set off a switch in Viral's mind, he was absolutely right. As if by sheer coincidence the song ended just as they were finished. Then again, she seemed to be connected to music whenever she needed it the most. Perhaps this was one such moment.

"It's going to be a long time before we'll get her back."

"All the more reason to stay collected. I'm sure you'll get through this."

She was confident he was right. The group of ponies needed her expertise. Surely it would become useful soon enough.

My Favorite Accident

A loud crash brought Viral out of her thoughts instantly as she put down the music she was listening to. Akula was already on his way outside, AK-47 already drawn. Viral followed him outside with her MP7, not knowing what to expect.

She sure didn't expect Dean to be in the grasp of another unicorn, his ride smashed into a stack of cars a short walk up the road. Without warning, Akula fired a shot at the unknown unicorn holding Dean up, causing her to flinch as the round bounced off her and she dropped the mostly helpless pegasus. A dragon nearby drew an MP5 to match up with Akula, only for Viral to draw her MP7 as Dean followed with snatching the .50 Action Express from Oscura, leveling it at the pony that had grabbed him.

"Friends of yours, I assume?"

"That's the thing that separates me from you. I have very good friends, you do not. Oh, and I'm a better driver than you!"

"That's Dean, even in the cold face of death he will smirk and make a remark." Viral thought, making sure to not take her eyes off the situation happening in front of her.

"Get in your car and drive away. If I see your car near this junkyard ever again I will personally put you through the wall!"

Several seconds and one very loud hateful monologue later the unicorn and her accomplice were on their way out of the area. driving in an easterly direction. Akula finally lowered is AK-47 and Viral soon relaxed putting away her MP7. After the standoff, she had a twinge of respect for the stallion building up inside her. If he kept impressing her, maybe he would be able to attract her attention for once.

Country Club
Several Minutes Earlier...

Lightning Dust was trying to relax, but her head would not let her. If there was one thing she hated about her situation, it was that she couldn't think clearly anywhere at any time. Especially not with Short Fuse pacing across the floor next to her.

"Do you want something Knucklehead?!" She finally broke and asked the pint sized stallion. He grunted before responding.

"How many times have I told you not to call me Knucklehead!?"

"How many times have I cared enough to listen? Now did you want something?"

"You... ya just seem tense all the time now. We don't really get to do anything cool now that this whole thing happened..."

Lightning stared into the pipsqueak with eyes that could melt a boulder, the dark haze definitely helped.

"You do realize that we don't have a damn choice. Suck it up, you car isn't even built for that anyway. I'm heading out for a drive. Don't follow me, and make sure Rolling Thunder doesn't either."

Without letting him say yes she went outside, got in her XS12, and left. She began heading south, passing by the repair shop and pulling a quick 180 on the winding corner. She continued on Hubbard Drive for some time.

After a few minutes of continuing south, she crossed the north side of the dam and turned left. On this road was a winding backside corner, but that corner could be cut by a super jump. Instead of doing either, she parked her car and exited it. She trotted up to the jump, climbed to the apex of the split ramp, and sat down. The place was unusually quiet, but with most of Sombra's slaves being in Downtown and Big Surf it was a quiet little place. At least it would have been had Lightning not recognized the sound of a Krieger Uberschall coming from the north. She didn't bother to move, either the car would pass by with no trouble or it would take the ramp and kill her instantly. However, it didn't do either. In fact, the Uberschall soon stopped not too far from where her XS12 was and shut off.

Lightning dared a glance at the car, finding it to be a Clear-View Uberschall. One that she was somewhat familiar with.

"That's a dangerous place to be sitting down."

"Since when did you care about the lives of other ponies Oscura?"

"I care about as much as you do."

"Touche."

"Really it depends, Dean is pretty much the only pony I actively want to kill."

"The pony that Rainbow Dash keeps gossiping over? I'm not that worried about him. I have a different problem to deal with right now."

"You're own red pegasus giving you trouble?"

Lightning finally turned her head to gaze at the unicorn, her mentioning of Viral catching her attention clearly.

"That seems to be the case."

"How... did you know?" Lightning asked with a hint of rage.

"I can be everywhere at once Lightning, whether you know it or not. You've been chasing her, and it's been driving you more insane than Sombra's control ever could. How funny that she just so happens to be at the junkyard not too far from our exact location... right now... with Dean and a few others."

Lightning immediately got up from her position on the ramp and ran back to her car, only to be grabbed by the unicorns magic as she did so. She attempted to struggle, but to no avail.

"Wow, you really do have a death wish."

"Why are you being so damn condescending?!"

"Because I just had a dose of a reality check planted on my side armor."

Lightning glanced at the unicorn once more, noticing a rifle bullet sized dent in the armor plating that covered the unicorns body.

"If you go now, they will kill you. I'm warning you now so you don't ruin what I'm trying to do."

Oscura finally put Lightning back on the ground, making sure she didn't try to run again.

"So... you want something out of me I assume?"

"There is a very old and overused saying Lightning Dust. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. It would seem we have common enemies..."

Oscura levitated something out of her car and tossed it in Lightning's direction. She caught it in her hooves. It was a P90 Submachine Gun, Complete with Laser, Retribution Barrel, and FMJ rounds.

".., only use that if absolutely necessary. We'll see each other again soon."

Oscura returned to her car, and drove down the winding curve heading south. she took a left at the Expressway bridge and headed back for downtown. Lightning pondered her options, Viral was no more than a short drive away, but if Oscura's warning was anything she would likely be dead on arrival. She needed to wait for a perfect moment. She returned to her car and also went down the hill, this time turning at the other side of the dam and crossing the super jump, exiting on the south side of Silver Lake.

Shot Down

Viral had been given the word from Akula to escort Twilight on her next burning route, the Mesquite. Much like the Hunter Cavalry Burning Route it was a very simple race and Viral knew it well. Get to the Naval Yard in a Hunter Mesquite in one minute and fourty-nine seconds or less. She had treated it like a baby step, but that was years ago and now it was Twilight's turn. With the threat of possible enslaved ponies turning this into a marked mare event with a time limit having some backup was almost necessary for the alicorn that was only now just getting her bearings.

As they approached the 2nd street intersection, Lightning Dust just so happened to be returning to the Country Club from her impromptu interaction with Oscura. The fact that she had managed to run into the exact pony she had been looking for was a mere coincidence but one that was indeed to her liking. While still holding the wheel with her left, she reached over to grab the P90. 51 rounds of 5.7 at a ludicrous speed, with Full Metal Jacket capable of extreme penetration on metal surfaces. It would do nicely.

Gripping the trigger, she let loose a dozen rounds into the rear window of the red GT Concept. Viral, caught off guard by the sudden unwelcome spray, regained control of her car and began to punch it. Twilight split ways with her to make way for the burning route, leaving Lightning with only one pony in mind. She payed the purple car no mind as she chased Viral further up Hubbard.

Viral retrieved her MP7, as much as she didn't wish to use it in such a situation. She pointed it out her shattered back window and fired a series of her own 5.7 in return. With a much worse line of view, as she was blind firing while driving, only a few rounds impacted the windshield of the XS12. None of them a threat to the driver. It had been a warning, but between Lightning's stubborn temper and the mind control there was no way she would back off.

Viral took her mind off the car behind her as she took the wide corner onto Lambert Parkway, before turning the car around and turning onto 7th. She ducked under another hail of gunfire which singed her mane and penetrated the seat where her headrest was, though her quick maneuver saved her life and forced Lightning to turn back around. It was at this time a Cyan Jansen P12 race by both of them on route to chasing Twilight.

Viral continued on, sending another short burst of fire out her left window, which hit its mark on both the left front fender and bumper of the XS12. This did not faze Lightning who returned by hitting the left rear and separating the sheet metal from the wheel. The wheel surprisingly and luckily was intact. Viral made a turn onto Franke in hopes of leaving her pursuer in the tall skyscrapers of Downtown Paradise.

They crested the hill, passing through the multi-lane intersection. Viral cut through the park entrance to lose the ever lasting presence of Lightning and give herself some breathing room. It did not work, Lightning followed her through the park and all the way into the construction site. As they hit the Super Jump there was an exchange of suppressive fire that neither mare made use of. But, it was incredibly cinematic. This was when Viral heard the distinct click of an empty mag. She had not brought any extra, for she did not expect to need it.

They landed on Anderson before cutting through Waterfront Plaza and rolling through a small garage, ending up the opposite direction on 4th. Lightning continued firing and gave the Concept a shunt. A light tap, but enough to send Viral through the market off to the left side.

Now hot on her targets tail, Lightning sent one more burst from the P90 in Viral's general direction. Still no contact, but the GT Concept was well on it's last breath. The market led into the park, across a jump and as they entered the building Dust have the GT Concept a strong hit that sent it into the wall under a low clearnence sign off 1st Street.

Soon, with the driver far too exhausted to continue, the lights of the battered muscle car shut off with the XS12 pinning it in.

Viral climbed out the back window of her car, but Lightning met her in the middle. Viral had no ammo, but Lightning had also made a mistake. As she went to take her final shot, she too heard a distinct click.

Viral recognized this immediately. As Lightning dropped her gun to charge her she dodged and grabbed hold of her from behind. Lightning backed her into the cars, separating her grip. Viral dodged a kick from the pegasus, instead rolling her over and attempting one of her own. This was caught by Lightning's hooves as she grabbed hold of Viral's hind leg and tightened her grip.

"You gonna stop running now?"

"Only when I'm dead."

Viral kicked Lightning with her other hind leg and broke the hold. She then grabbed Lightning by her left foreleg and brought her to the asphalt before wrapping the leg around her head to keep it out of the way. She followed this by wrapping both her front legs around Lightning's neck and began to pull, attempting to suffocate her as she fought to break the grip. It took about 45 seconds for Lightning's struggle to settle as she slowly lost consciousness.

Viral checked her pulse, still alive. She released her grip allowing the mare to breath again. The Concept started without argument and while battered beyond recognition still managed to pull away leaving Lightning passed out next to her XS12.

Viral began humming a little bit to get her mind off the fact that she was one bullet short of being dead. It was the chorus to a Nine Black Alps song.

Author's Note

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ke_jzz1v1AI